Electrically grounded,lapped siding



March 4, 1969 J. LASHKOW I ELECTRICALLY GROUNDED, LAPPED SIDING Filed Jan. 9, 1967 United States Patent 1 Claim ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE An interlocking laminated lap siding panel for external wall sheathing for buildings wherein each panel includes a planar body portion having an outer weather surface and including top and bottom linear edges. The bottom edge is formed into an elongated inwardly and upwardly extending re-entrant bottom hook flange. The top edge includes a first reverse bend directed outwardly and downwardly of the body portion to form a re-entrant notch portion for receiving the bottom hook flange of a like adjacent panel in interlocking engagement there with. The first reverse bend in the top edge has a plurality of downwardly directed protuberances formed therein at the top of the notch portion. The bottom hook flange terminates in an upper linear edge adapted to contact such protuberances on a like adjacent panel to form an electrical connection therewith whereby electrical continuity is provided between such panels by the metal-tometal contact therebetween.

This invention relates to structural siding and more particularly to interlocking lapped siding panels for residential and commercial buildings.

In recent years it has been common practice to resurface older houses and other buildings, especially clapboard or lapped siding buildings, with a more permanent material such as metal siding. It is also common practice to employ such siding as original surfaces on new homes and buildings.

Metal siding has many advantages over wooden siding. For example, it is fireproof and waterproof, does not absorb water, and may be permanently colored, thus eliminating the need for subsequent painting or resurfacing.

On the other hand, metal siding is an excellent conductor of electricity. Accordingly, it is absolutely essential that such siding be thoroughly and permanently grounded to ground not only lightning, but any electrostatic charges that may build up therein.

Therefore, it is an object of the invention to provide a simple, positive, and permanent ground for metal siding.

A further object of the invention is to provide metal siding having positive and permanent electrical continuity between the siding panels.

A further object of the invention is to provide metal siding of the above type that is simple in construction, inexpensive to manufacture, and easy to install.

As a summary of the disclosure the foregoing objects are accomplished by the provision of a metal siding panel having a planar, body portion with an outer weather surface and including top and bottom linear edges. The bottom edge is, formed into an inwardly and upwardly extending re-entrant bottom hook flange. The top edge is formed into a first reverse bend directed outwardly and thence downwardly of the body portion to form a re-entrant notch portion for receiving the bottom hook flange of a like adjacent (upper) panel in interlocking engagement therewith. Such first reverse bend on the top edge of the panel has a plurality of downwardly directed protuberances formed therein at the top of its notch 3,430,395 Patented Mar. 4, 1969 ice portion. The bottom hook flange terminates in an upper linear horizontal edge to contact such protuberances on a like adjacent (lower) panel to form an electrical connection therewith, whereby positive electrical continuity is provided between such panels. In a modification of the invention the protuberances may be formed by apertures struck downwardly through such first bend whereby the jagged peripheral edge of each of such apertures forms the protuberances. The bottom or lowest of such interconnected panels is directly grounded by suitable grounding means such as, for example, a conventional ground wire. Weep holes may be provided in the bottom hook flange to drain off any excess moisture inadvertently disposed therein.

With this construction, positive electrical continuity is automatically established between the panels as they are applied to a building wall, thereby providing a secure, positive ground to the composite siding when the bottom panel thereof is suitably grounded.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following description taken in conjunction with the drawings wherein:

FIGURE 1 is a portional perspective view of the corner of a building and showing the siding of the invention applied thereto;

FIGURE 2 is an enlarged perspective sectional view taken along the line 2-2 of FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 3 is an enlarged perspective right end View taken along the line 33 of FIGURE 2;

FIGURE 4 is an enlarged sectional view taken along the line 4-4 of FIGURE 3; and

FIGURE 5 is a view similar to FIGURE 4, but showing a modification thereof.

Although the invention is shown and described herein with reference to aluminum siding, it will be understood that it may be applied to any type of siding that conducts electricity.

Referring first to FIGS. 1, 2 and 3, there is shown a plurality of interlocked, laminated, lap siding panels of the invention for external-wall sheathing for buildings, with the individual panels thereof being generally designated as P. With the exception of the bottom panel 5, all such interconnected panels are the same in structure, hence only one will be described in detail. The panel or siding P includes a planar body portion 6 having an outer weather surface 7. In a preferred form of the invention, the panel P is aluminum siding whereby in cross section, the panel comprises a central portion 8 of aluminum, an inner layer 9 of anti-oxidation coating, and the outer weather surface 7 of suitable coloring matter.

The bottom linear edge of the panel is formed into an elongated inwardly and thence upwardly-extending re-entrant bottom hook flange F which includes an inwardly-extending flat portion 14 and an upwardly-extending hook 16. The book 16 terminates in an upper linear edge 18. The flat portion 14 may be provided with a plurality of spaced weep holes 20' for draining oif fluids inadvertently disposed in the bottom hook flange F.

The top linear edge of the panel is formed into a first reverse bend 30 directed first outwardly and thence downwardly of the body portion 10 to form a re-entrant notch portion 32 for receiving the bottom hook 16 of the bottom hook flange F of a like, associated, next highest adjacent panel P in interlocking engagement therewith. Such top edge further includes a second-reverse bend 34 extending outwardly and thence upwardly from the first-reverse bend 30, and thence followed by a third bend 36 extending inwardly and thence upwardly from the second bend 34 and terminating in a planar nailing flange 40. The nailing flange 40 contains a plurality of spaced nail holes 42 for nailing the panel to an associated building wall. In a preferred form, the nail holes 42 are horizontally elongated slots.

To provide electrical continuity between the panels when mounted on a building, a plurality of spaced, downwardly-directed protuberances 50 are formed in the top of the notch portion 32 of the first reverse bend 30. In operation, the upper linear edge 18 of the bottomhook flange F of the next highest adjacent associated panel contacts the coacting protuberances 50 to make electrical connection therewith as best shown in FIG. 4. With this construction, positive and permanent electrical continuity is provided in the composite siding. Such composite siding may be grounded by any suitable coacting grounding means such as the ground wire 56 con nected at one end to the bottom panel 5 and at the other end to the water pipe 58.

FIG. 5 illustrates a modification of the invention wherein each protuberance is formed by striking an aperture downwardly and completely through the notch portion 32 whereby the lower peripheral edges of such aperture are jagged to form the modified protuberance 60'.

The terms and expressions which have been employed are used as terms of description, and not of limitation, and there is no intention, in the use of such terms and expressions, of excluding any equivalents of the features shown and described or portions thereof, but it is recognized that various modifications are possible within the scope of the invention claimed.

I claim:

1. In combination, a plurality of interlocked laminated lap siding panels providing external wall sheathing for buildings, each of said panels comprising, a planar body portion having a coated weather surface and including top and bottom linear edges, said bottom edge being formed into an elongated inwardly and upwardly extending re-entrant bottom hook flange, said top edge including a first reverse bend directed outwardly and downwardly of the body portion to form a re-entrant notch portion receiving the bottom hook flange of a like adjacent panel in interlocking engagement therewith, said first reverse bend having a plurality of downwardly directed protuberances formed therein at the top of the notch portion, said bottom hook flange terminating in an uncoated upper linear edge contacting such protuberances on a like adjacent panel to form an electrical connection therewith whereby electrical continuity is effected between such panels by providing metal-to-metal contact between the panels, said protuberances being the lower peripheral edges of apertures which are struck downwardly through said notch portion, said lower peripheral edges of the apertures being jagged such that the protuberances are sharp jagged peripheral edges of the apertures, said top edge further including a second bend extending outwardly and upwardly from the first bend and a third bend extending inwardly and thence upwardly from the second bend and terminating in a planar nailing flange, said nailing flange having a plurality of nail holes in the form of elongated slots therein to secure the panel to an associated building wall, and a ground wire connected at one end to the lowest of such interlocked panels and at its other end to a coacting grounding means, said bottom hook flange containing a plurality of weep holes to drain off fluids inadvertently disposed in such bottom hook flange.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,580,321 12/1951 Rees 17435.2 3,236,932 2/1966 Grigas 52543 3,289,365 12/1966 McLaughlin 52-531 3,318,060 5/1967 Collins 52-531 HENRY C. SUTHERLAND, Primary Examiner.

US. Cl. X.R. 52-531; 174-2 

